Inspired Potter parody offers a fresh perspective
By Anne Reid
“Puffs,” also known as Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic, is a 2015 original play by New York-based playwright Matt Cox. The play is a parody of the Harry Potter book series by J.K. Rowling, told from the perspective of the Puffs, the underdogs of Hogwarts’ House Hufflepuff.
For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to a certain wizard school and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs... who just happened to be there too. It’s a comedic and heartwarming tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world or has ever felt like a secondary character in someone else’s story. The play offers a new look at a familiar adventure at a certain school of magic, told from the perspective of three heroes just trying to make it through classes, creatures, and hormones. Alongside them are the Puffs, a group of well-meaning, loyal rejects with a thing for badgers who are so lovable and relatable you’ll leave the theatre wishing they had been in the stories all along. This hilariously heartfelt journey takes the classic story to new places and reimagines what a boy wizard hero can be. It is heartwarming, clever, and hilarious.
The Alchemy Theatre first produced the West Coast Premiere of “Puffs” in 2019. “We knocked it out of the park and decided, like many theatres do, that this would be our mainstay-- the show we would produce every year,” said Director Jeff Lowe. “When we went into talks with the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center, we knew we would have limited tech time, so we decided to push the envelope with “Puffs” since it's something we are familiar with and know we do well.”
“As a theatre company without a space to call our own, Alchemy is always excited to work with new venues and share our talent with as many communities as we can,” said Producer Joey Nestra-West. “We have been wanting to partner with the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center for some time, and the fact that we get to do so on a show that means so much to us is almost kismet.”
Lowe said that since the intention was to do the show every year, they offered many of the 2019 cast their roles again. For those individuals who were unavailable, they brought in casting directors and held open auditions. “We’re glad we did, too,” he said. “Because we were introduced to some amazing new Puffs that have brought new and magical moments to the show.”
“At a time when more and more people are being singled out and made to feel less than because they do not fit the status quo of what people think they should be, this seemed to be a perfect time to perform a piece that not only highlights but celebrates the outcasts and shows them creating their own families and connections to support and celebrate each other,” said Nestra-West.
The show is a fast-paced, borderline farcical, abridgment of a seven-book series told in approximately 110 minutes. It’s full of quick jokes, crazy characters, and zany antics. It also has a lot of heart, and the moments of stillness and earnestness are where the show and its themes truly shine. If you're a fan of the series-that-shall-not-be-named, there are a plethora of jokes and deep cuts for you to discover and enjoy, but even if you're unfamiliar, the show is still a beautiful story with characters you'll instantly fall in love with.
“It’s a show that will sneak up on you with heartfelt moments and then launch into a hilarious cavalcade of irreverent comedy and outlandish fun,” Lowe said. “There is something special about taking a subject matter that brings a tribalism to which house you belong to, and yet when the show is said and done, everyone walks out feeling a little more like a Puff.” Lowe believes this is one of the most special things about the show because it breaks down barriers, and through these seemingly two-dimensional characters, it reveals a level of nuance and community that can only be reached when everyone works hard and together to do the right thing-- like a Puff.
Speaking about his favorite part of the show, Nestra-West said he personally enjoys the more tender moments. “There are scenes where you get to see the true heart of these characters and their experiences. It's in those moments that the show elevates itself from just being a parody or lampoon and becomes a show of its own with its own message.”
“One of the wonderful things about this show is that, thanks to the Fair Use Copyright Doctrine, the increasingly problematic author of the works the show references and her affiliates do not see any kind of monetary profit from the show at all, which is good, but we wanted to do more,” Nestra-West said. “So we are very excited to be partnering with Alianza Translatinx, an Orange County-based transgender-led organization that works to help improve the quality of life for transgender and gender-nonconforming (GNC) people of color in Orange County.” (www.alianzatranslatinx.org) During the run of the show, the theatre will be hosting a sock donation drive. In exchange for unopened packages of socks, members of the audience will receive a limited edition Alchemy Theatre "Puffs" sock pin. At the end of the run, the collected socks will be donated to Alianza Translatinx to be distributed to members of the Trans/GNC community who are in need.
“Puffs” is not authorized, sanctioned, licensed, or endorsed by J.K. Rowling, Warner Bros., or any person or company associated with the Harry Potter books, films, or play.
Anne Reid is a writer, public & community relations expert, and theatre mom.
“Puffs”
The Alchemy Theatre
Virginia DeLand Theater at the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center
4802 Lakeview Avenue, Yorba Linda, CA
September 6 - 22, 2024
(657) 205-6273, www.alchemytheatre.com
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